After the excitement over the Paramount+ Yellowstone prequel 1923, the series premiere drew an impressive cross-platform audience on Sunday night. Starring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren as past Duttons, fans couldn’t wait for the series to debut. Now, having aired episode 1 on December 18, millions of viewers were attracted to the show.
Yellowstone prequel 1923 viewership
It turns out some 7.4 million people watched the premiere episode on four cable telecasts, three on Paramount Network, one on CMT, along with streaming on Paramount+. Meanwhile, the remainder of season 1 will stream on Paramount+.
In comparison, the 2018 premiere for season 1 of Yellowstone was viewed by 2.8 million people on the Paramount Network.
Variety quotes Tanya Giles, Chief Programming Officer at Paramount Streaming as saying:
Anchored by Taylor Sheridan’s incredible vision and the performances of legends Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford, we felt confident this next chapter of the Dutton Family origin story would resonate with audiences.
Moreover, Giles said they were thrilled with the record-breaking early response to the first episode. Moreover, they “can’t wait” to introduce more audiences to “this incredible journey of perseverance, heartbreak and adventure set amongst the backdrop of the Mountain West.”
Yellowstone ‘universe-breaking’ records
Meanwhile, Chris McCarthy, President and CEO of Paramount Media Networks and MTV Entertainment Studios also made a statement, saying:
The Yellowstone universe continues to break records, with our latest chapter, 1923 scoring as the most-watched premiere ever on Paramount+ and debuting as the #1 new cable premiere of the year on linear.
According to McCarthy, Taylor Sheridan “continues to tap a cultural nerve that has proven irresistible to viewers from across the country and around the world.” Moreover, he added that the latest installment shows no sign of slowing down. McCarthy said this proves yet again the “power of our franchise strategy to fuel the future of Paramount+.”
About the Yellowstone prequel
In Sheridan’s Yellowstone prequel, 1923, the Dutton family faces a new set of challenges in the early 20th century. These include the rise of Western expansion, Prohibition, historic drought and the Great Depression.
As noted by IMDb, besides famously starring Ford and Mirren, 1923 features many more stars some of which form part of the Dutton family. In fact, these include Brandon Sklenar as Spencer Dutton, Darren Mann as Jack Dutton, James Badge Dale as John Dutton Sr. and Marley Shelton plays Emma Dutton.
Other cast members include Michelle Randolph as Elizabeth Strafford and Brian Geraghty as Zane Davis. Meanwhile, Aminah Nieves plays Teonna and Julia Schlaepfer plays Alexandra. Moreover, Jerome Flynn plays Banner Creighton, Caleb Martin plays Dennis.
Readers, did you watch the premiere episode of 1923? Please leave your impressions of the Yellowstone prequel in the comments below.
